John adam wells



(No Model.)

J. A. WELLS.

DITGHING MACHINE.

Patented Mar.22,1887

N. PETERS. Phommm n rm, Washin ton, D.(.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcu.

JOHN ADAM ELLS, OF DELAYVARE, OHIO.

DITCHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,911. dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed October 6, 1886. Serial No. 215,483. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN ADAM WELLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Delaware, in the county of Delaware and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-lllachines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to ditching-machines; and it consists in the novel features more fully hereinafter set forth, claimed, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detail view, parts broken away, of the rear end. Fig. 3 is a detail view, parts broken away, of the front end. Fig. 4 is a section on the line :0 so of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail front view of the advance cutters and a portion of the elevating-wheel on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a front. view, parts broken away, of the eutter-sup tiort, showing the cutters in position and in an adjusted position by dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lever for adjusting and holding the side-wheel support in an adjusted position. Fig. 8 is a sectional detail view on the line 3/ 3 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the connection between the front stirrup and its adj listing-lever.

The machine comprises the side beams, A, located at a distance apart, the elevator-wheel A, supported between them in brackets a, the guide and cutter B, the side-delivery chute C, and the seat K, all of ordinary construction.

The machine is supported by front and rear casters, D and E, and the side whecl,j, which latter is mounted upon the outer end of the support J, pivoted at its inner end to one of the beams A and strengthened by the bracerod J, which is connected with the support near its lower end and pivotally connected at its inner end with one of the beams A.

The support J can be adjusted to raise or lower the side wheel to suit the depth of ditch being dug in such manner as to preserve the elevator-wheel in a perpendicular position. For this purpose I have devised the lever L, which is pivoted midway its ends, and has its outer end connected by the link Z with the sup port J in such manner that the support has a longitudinal movementrelative to the link during the adj ustmentof said support, as will be readily appreciated. The inner side of the lever is provided with a lug, Z, which is adapted to engage one of a series of teeth in the segment L and hold it in any adjusted position.

The rear caster, E, is supported in a bracket, E, which unites the rear ends of the beams A, and is vertically adjustable therein, said adjustment being effected by means of the lever L supported on a crossbar, m, and having its outer end connected with the shank of the caster by the link 2- which is pivoted at its upper end to the lever and swivelly connected at its lower end with the shank of the caster, as shown.

The standard llI,provided with a series of notches on its inner edge, is adapted to engage with the lever and hold it in any adjusted position.

The front caster, D, is swivelly supported in the lower end of a stirrup, N, which is held and guided in its movements by a casting, O, which unites the front ends of the beams A, and has the tongue P supported thereby. The rear portion of the casting projects downwardly, forming extensions 0. The casting and extensions has vertical ribs 0 projecting inward from its separated parts, which form ways for the limbs of the stirrup N, which latter is provided with vertical grooves 11, into which the ribs 0 project. By this means the stirrup is guided in its movements and prevented from any lateral displacement. The stirrup is adjusted by the lever Q, which is supported at its outer end by the cross-bar Q, and is connected by the link q with said stirrup. The standard q, having a series of teeth on its inner edge, is adapted to have one of them engaged by the lip q projecting laterally from the lever, and hold the latter in any ad j usted position.

The cut-tersupport H consists of a bracket having atransverse opening near its lower end, in which the arms 1' of the cutters I are ad ICO 5 sition.

justably held. The arms of the cutters over-. lap each other and haveaseries of notches, i, formed intheir upper edge, which are engaged by a pin, I, and hold them in an adjusted po- The upper ends are expanded or widened, forming extensions 1', which project forward, and. are inclined slightly toward each other, andare for the purpose ofengaging with the sides of the ditch and compressing the same to steady the machine and guide it in its movement when deepening the ditch. By adjust ing the cutters laterally the ditch may be widened beyond the sides of the elevator-wheel,

:5 so as to give clearance and permit a slight sideto-side movement of the machine, incident to the side wheel passing over the uneven surface.

In practice, the height of the elevator-whec1 20 from the ground is regulated by the adjustment of the front and rear casters, and is maintainedin a perpendicular position by the ad justment of the side wheel. the ground in advance of the elevator-wheel,

25 which,with the guide-cutter, removes a slice of earth in the usual manner and carries it to the delivery-chute which discharges it to one side of the ditch, as may be readily understood.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I 0 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a ditchingmachine, the combination The cutters open 10 and preventing any caving in. They also serve of. the frame composed of two side bars, the

side wheel, the support pivoted at its inner endto the side bar farther removed from the:

side wheel, the lever and segment mounted upon the nearer side bar, the link connecting the lever and support, and the brace-rod in: terposed between the frame and the lower end of the support, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. In a ditching-machine, the combination,

with the excavator-wheel, of vertical cutters located in advance of the wheel and bodily ad- 3' ustablelaterally, and having their upper front corners extended forwardand inclined toward each other, whereby the ditch is widened and its sides compressed,substantially as and for:

the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the bracket H, transversely apertured, of the vertical cutters located on each side of the bracket, and hav: ing arms extending into said opening and overlapping eaeh other, each arm having portions removed at intervals, and the pin passed through the bracket and fitted in a removed portion of each arm, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ADAM WELLS.

Vi tn ess es:

XV. B. ALBRIGHT, IIENRY G. SHELDON. 

